Means and method fob placing



Sept. 8, 1931 B. A. Ross .822.

MEANS AND METHOD FOR PLACING RBVETIBM' HATS Filed Aug. 7-, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 8, 1931. B. A. ROSS MEANS AND METHOD FOR PLACING REVETMENT MATS Filed Aug. 7, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 8, 1931. B. A. ROSS MEANS AND METHOD FOR PLACING REVETMENT MATS Filed Aug. '7, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 6 Sept. 8, 1931. B. A. ROSS IEANS AND METHOD FOR PLACING REVETIENT HATS s sheets-sheet 4 Filed Aug. '7, 1930 .Zmwmy lat/4! may Sept. 8, 1931. B. A. Ross MEANS AND METHOD FOR PLACING REVETMENT MATS Filed Aug. '7 1 950 5 Shets-Sheat Patented Sept. 8, 1931 entree BLAIR A. ROSS, OF MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE MEANS ANDMET HOD FOR PLACING'llREVETMEN T MATS Application filed August 7, 1930. I'Seria1No. 473',728.

'Qhis invention rel-ates toimprovements in means and methods for laying mats for the purposeof preventing erosion of the-banks or channels, of streams which flow through 1 alluvial or-other readilyerod-able land -or ofother bodies of water. Streams'flowing through lands of this kind are constantly shifting andif'they are to be stabilized, it becomes necessary to revet'portions of the bank, often for'considerable distances along the stream, such revetment often extending intoquite deep water and also vwellup along the bank. A very considerable portion of this work-must be placed under water and other parts-above the watch Since thereis a considerable fluctuation ordinarily in such streams, advantage may-betakenof a higher than average stage to extend the mat so far up thebank, that on a subsequent lower stage one edge will be out of water and such additional work as-is necessary may be completed by land methods. It will be understoodthat this invention relates to thatportion-of the work which is doneunder water.

Mats'for this work have long been used and many of the types are well known, such for instance as the continuous mat woven of small willow trees and weighted down with rock; or certain 'formsof concrete slabs tied 1- together'by cables'or otherwiseas may be desired. A form 'ofslab with which this method is particularly avail-able is shown in my pending application for patent Serial -N umber 473,727,1iled Aug. 7th, 1930, to the placing of whichform of slab the present drawings are'directed.

In under water'revetmen't work, the mat is gotten readyabove water and'subsequently placed. This is usuallydone by providing barges with transversely inclined deckshaving an over-all length when placed end to end somewhat greater than one dimension of the proposed mat; mooring these barges adj acent the beginning point of the work, build ing or assembling the mat on 'the inclined deckofthesc barges, sliding themat so built over the bargeedge, and progressively adding additional portions as the barges move away from the beginningpoint.

50 xvhcresmall trees such as willow saplings are used, the trees are laid lengthwise and crosswise andz tieditogether to form a mat of the desired-width,theupper end'rof this mat is anchored by .cables, the barges are allowed. to iislip downstream, or are pulled down. stream it necessary, sliding a portion of the mat into the watergand leavingrroom for'additional .mat to beabuilt; this operation being continued until thew desired r stretch of bank has been covered.

.Such a. mat is lighterthan watenandimay be extendedztoi any length .desired withinthe strength of theanchoringcables orof the mat itself. When a sectionhasSbeen completed, 'the up stream end ris weighted until submergence occurs. Thereafterthe flow of the 1' current tends to depress the top of the mat wradually forcing it downward as wa ter therebeneath is displaced, permitting barges ofrrocktobezfloated over the mat and additionalweight toxbeput thereon to sink itztoplace. During the weaving ofithemat shore cablesrare necessarily attachedat intervals to prevent the mat being swept; away from x the: bank.

Where one form of ,COIICIGtGaSlflbS as now made are used, these :slabs are ordinarily made in sections ofsuitable size ata central mixing plant and are :loaded :on barges, brought to the site of the work and trans 'ferredi to: the mat launching'bargesr In'such ease the barges are ordinarily anchored parallel to zthe bank, 'the work being begun either at .thebank orzthe outer edge of the: proposed mat; as may be desired. The concrete slabs are then.securedbyrfasteningthemwith clips to cables, extending along the blocks and across them, a completed strip of mat is pulled over the edge of the barge and allowed tohang down, ssupportedby one set ofthe cables. A'dditional seetionsare added and secured to the supporting cables and together, :forming successive additional strips, and these: inturnpu'lled over the edge of the barge. Asthe first strip ofmatsettlesto placeon theiri-ver bottomithe bargeds moved away from the work and'thisislkept up until such width as is desired iscompleted.

.In another method isuccessive individual slabs of the mat'are-slid' down parallel cables to place, an edge of each slab in such case overlying the adjacent edge of a previously laid slab.

The methods above outlined are open to numerous objections. In the case of the willow mat the upper end often becomes waterlogged before the lower end is completed and in such case often becomes unmanageable and cannot be held to its proper place, even in some cases breaking in two. -With concrete mats assembled before laying constant trouble is had with breaking in two, or turning the barges over in deep water, since the weight of slab to be supported becomes too great to be properly handled. Both this type and that in which the slabs are slid into place are also subject to the even more serious objection that such extreme flexibility of slab connecting means, must be used to care for the relative angularity of slabs in placing, as to inherently require the use of cables to secure the slabs together.

The objects of this invention are to provide means and methods for laying revetment mats either of small trees, concrete slabs or other material, which will allow laying of large'sections of mat without undue stress on slab or other connectors and without undue flexing thereof;

To provide means for supporting a mat prior to sinking it to place;

To provide means for releasing the mat portions from the supports therefor, in proper sequence; and

To provide means for supporting a mat during and after construction, whereby it may be constructed and removed to a remote site and thereafter be sunk to place.

These objects are accomplished by equipping the usual weaving or assembling barges, with ways extending outward from these barges below water; providing pontons which maybe brought over successively completed strips of mat supported on these ways and be secured to such strips to support them as they leave the ways whereby portions of the mat so completed, are supported by pontons until the desired length of mat is completed; and by equipping these pontons with means for automatically releasing the mats supported thereby when excessive load is put 011 such ponton.

The detailed means by which the foregoing and other objects are accomplished and the manner of their accomplishment will readily be understood from the following specification by reference to the accompanying drawings, are directed to the handling and placing of concrete slabs, and in which Fig. 1 is a plan view, on a greatly reduced scale showing individual concrete slabs in place on the launching barge and assembled into a mat with a previous completed part launched and supported by pontons from which the mat is to be lowered.

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation extending up and down stream showing the beginning of the work with no slabs or part of the mat in place.

Fig. 3 is a similar sectional elevation showing a portion of the mat in place and progression of the placing operation.

Fig. l is a sectional elevation and transverse to the current of the stream.

Fig. 5 is a plan view, on a larger scale, of one of the pontons showing detail of the attaching means.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the same ponton.

Fig. 7 is a sectional end elevation of one of the pontons on a still larger scale showing the action of the automatic release mecha nism.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional plan taken on the line VIII-"VIII of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional end elevation. oi the assembling barge showing the extended ways, and an end elea'tion of one of the pontons att ched to slabs on the ways; and

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary end elevation of one of the mooring barges and an end elevation of the adjacent row of pontons with the upstream rows of mat slabs carried thereby.

Referring now to the drawings in which the various parts are indicated by numerals, 10 are barges on which the slabs 11 have been placed at the mixing plant and which barges have been towed to the site of the work. 12 are barges which carry cranes or derricks 13 for removing the slabs 11 from the barges l0 and positioning them on launclr ing barges 1 1, from which launching ways 15 extend. 11A, 11B, 11C, and 111) etc., indicate respectively completed rows of the slabs 11, which have been assembled and connected together on the barge 141 and the ways 15, with alternate rows 11A, 11C, 11E, and 11G, secured to and supported by pontons 161%., 16G etc. Slabs 111 are shown on the ways with the pontons 161 secured thereto just prior to launching. The first row of slabs 11A supported by the row of pontcns 16A is anchored at its upstream side by heavy cables 17, which pass under mooring barges 20, and are secured to a second row of n1oor ing barges 21, these latter barges being in turn anchored by cables 22. Cables, preferably omitted to avoid complication of the drawings, extend from the barges 20 to the launching barges 14. The rows of slabs are anchored to the bank by cables 23, secured to deadmen 24?, this shore anchorage being: provided from time to time as the building of the mat progresses. 25 are release lines for disengaging the mooring cables 17 from theslabs after the mat is sunk to place.

Disposed over the pontons 16 are chains 26 each of which is provided at its ends with hooks 27 one for each end, which hooks are adapted to be engaged with loops 28, or other supportingdevices iormingpartd'f the mats to be placed. When engaged with a 'loop eachrhookis zheld by a ring;29. 30: are short lengths of chains, "each having one end secured -to :a ring 29 l and the other hooked on a supportialson the ponton.

51321611 of the-chains 26is secured aboutzmidway its length-to -a-cable:-32 which cablemay be drawn :around gpulleys 33 into :a E1001) or bight 32A and this :bight engaged with a latch 34, which is attached-as by-a pivot 35 to a floatwarmi-iifi. i37iisia stop block-against which the .lo werzend of l the latch 34 may :be engaged when thefloat;arm 36-isdown. One endof-the arm 36 isunounted as -on apivot 38. and theother end carries a float 39.

40 isfanzeyelonthe arni36 with whiclra line ma y be -:engaged -.to iraise the *fioat by hand. 41'is a safetyipin.

iIn the type'ofslab illustrated inzmycompanion application before mentioned, the corners of each of the slabs are -cut away to providea space in which means for securing the slab :togethenmay be placed, (Fig. 8). This attaching uneans comprises a ring 42 and bars 43 each projecting from a slab corner. These bars are first bent upward to receive 'thering anda'fter thesring is placed thereover, are further :bent r over to hold the ring ,in place. :A washer 44 is placed on these bars, thelower'end of the loop 28 is passed through this washer, an additional washer .45is placed undert'hebarsand-the loops secured by tightening: a \nut 46 against the underside :of the washer 45. A loop so placedserves as a'support for one corner of each of four slabs.

Referring @now especially to Figs. 19 and 10a row of-sl-abs as 1 1A, were placedvon the inclineddeck ofithe launchingbarge 14, and the corners along the 1 outer edge l secured togethcr and to the mooring cables. Additional rows 1 1 13, 'etc., were then =successively assembled adjacent thereto and each row connected at the corners of each slab withtheslabs adjacent thereto. After these connections *fora row were made-the rows ofslabs*werepulleddown the ways to make room' foran additional row, this being accomplished by allowing the launching barges andot'her bargesrassociated therewith to movedown-stream away from the mooring barge. ln accom plis'hing' this each completedrow, asindicatedby the'row 11I is supported in submerged position by the launching ways 15 as it leaves the barge deck. A row of pontons 161 is assembled over this row of slabs andthe chains 26over these pontons are engaged :with the 'loops 28. At the time of this engagement. :the chains will be comparatively ,slack. They are then drawn taut :bythe cable 32-and the bight of the cable isfsecuredbyengaging the latch '34 therewith and also engaging such latch with the block 37. The safety pins :41

causing the-support ofthe first-row of slabs to'be transferred from the ways tothc pontons. a The adj acent'row of slabs isalso; pulled ofitgthe 'ways, the outer edge being supported by the .zslabs which are ponton supported,

and the inner edge by the slabswhichware'on the ways;

TIT-he operation thus described-is continued until such length of mat has-been builtas it is desired to lay. The safety pinsat'such time'are all removed,and'theifioats 4OA-on thepontons 16A which lie adjacent themooring barges .20 are raised [by hand, the :lines 47A havingbeen provided :forsuch services, thesfloat first raisedfbeingeitheron the ponton zfurtherest away from the bank or :nearest to the 'bank depending largely on the condition of the current but in the majority of the cases .being on the ponton furtherest from thebank. Raising thisfirst float disengages the latch 34 from .the lug 37 and I frees thezbight'32A of the cable 32iloosening up thechainsfQGand permitting the weight of :the slabs to pull their ends downward, and 1 the chains to .straighten to the position 26A. This dropcauses thechainsBOto pull the'rings 29 freefrom theihooks 27, allowing themuto disengage 'from the loops 28, and release these .ma-ts. @rdinarily the additional slab weight transferred to the next ponton in line would so submerge it-thatfits float willautomatically trip the latch on'the ponton inext nearer .to the bank, but v as this might not occur all the floats on this first rowof pontons .are preferably raised by hand. When the first row of slabs is released .it and. the second row secured thereto begin to. sink,the action however being retarded by ithe pull of the :mooring cables. Theiadditional weight of these rows of slabs causes the second row -of pontons to submerge so low that the floats carried thereby automatically release the latches on these pontons, and-suchaction automatically continues-until the entire mat is 'released from the pontons. .Shouldanyfloatfailto act the line 47 "attached thereto would actuate it. In Fig. 3,:the release of-the slabs is shown to have progressed as 'far as the ponton 16X, which have submerged to suchpoint that thefioat-40Xis just ready to-release the slabs 16X supported bythese pontons.

twilhbe understood :that while the description herein has beenconfined to "the placing of a particulartypeof concreteslab mat, thatit can readily be-used in connection ""1 with the willow or other form of wooden mat; with other forms of concrete slab mats; or with other types of mats.

With willow mats the first row of pontons is assembled over the end of the mat, loops being provided on the mat with which the chain hooks may be engaged. Additional rows of pontons are then spaced in identical manner as herein shown and the release of the mat is accomplished identically.

In using this system with Willow mats it is possible to weight them very much heavier with stone, before sinking, than is possible where they must be solely supported by their own buoyancy.

\Vith other forms of mats it is only necessary to provide loops to which the chain hooks may be attached and thereafter to follow the same procedure.

This description has been confined to laying a mat down stream adjacent the bank of the river, it will be evident that the same means and methods may be employed in substantially identical manner for laying a mat on any portion of the bottom of the stream whether adjacent the bank or away therefrom.

In many instances it is more convenient to lay mats beginning adjacent the bank and working outward directly into the stream. In such case the end of the mat is anchored to deadmen on the bank and the mooring barges are used to hold the upstream sides of the met. It is therefore to be distinctly understood that in the claims no distinction is intended between laying a mat down stream along the bank, down stream in the channel, or transversely away from the bank.

It will further be understood that the means and methods herein are equally applicable to work in lakes ,or other bodies of water.

Having described my invention, what I claim is:

l. The method of building and placing revetment mats, which comprises assembling a mat above water, in successive increments, progre ively launching the mat so formed, securing the portion of mat first completed to and supporting same by a series of floats, progressively securing additional portions of such mat as they are completed, to, and supporting same by floats, and on completion of a mat of desired length, releasing the floats along one end of said mat and progressivcly thereafter releasing additional floats as the previously released portions settle, until all of said floats are released; and allowing said mat to settle to place.

2. The method of building and placing revetment mats, which comprises assembling a mat above Water, in successive increments, anchoring the beginning edge of such mat, progressively launching the mat so formed,

securing the portion of mat first completed to and supporting same by a series of floats, progressively securing additional portions of such mat as they are completed, to, and supporting them by floats, and on completion of a mat of desired length, releasing the floats supporting one end of said mat, and progressively releasing additional floats, as the previously released portions settle, until all of said floats are released, and allowing said mat to settle to place.

' 3. The method of building and placing revetment mats, which comprises assembling a mat above water, in successive increments, progressively launching the mat so formed, securing the portion of mat first completed to and supporting same by a row of floats, progressively securing additional portions of such mat as they are completed, to, and supporting them by, additional rows of floats, and on completion of a mat of desired length, releasing the row of floats along one end of said mat and progressively thereafter releasing additional rows as the previously released portions of mat settle, until all of said floats are released; and allowing said mat to settle to place. i

4:. The method of building and placing revetment mats, which comprises assembling a mat above water, in successive increments, anchoring the beginning edge of such mat, progressively launching the mat so formed, securing the portion of mat first completed to and supporting the same by a row of floats, progressively securing additional portions of such mat as they are completed, to, and supporting them by, additional rows of floats, and on completion of a mat of desired length, releasing the floats supporting one end of said mat, and progressively releasing additional floats, as the previously released portions settle, until all of said floats are released, and allowing said mat to settle to place.

5. The method of building and placing revetment mats, which comprises assembling a mat above water, in successive increments, progressively launching the mat so formed, securing the portion of mat first completed to and supporting same by a series of floats, progressively securing additional portions of such mat as they are completed, to and supporting same by floats, and on completion of a mat of desired length, manually releasing the floats along one end of said mat and allowing settlement incident to such release to progressively thereafter release additional floats until all of said floats are released, whereby said mat may settle to place.

6. The method of building and placing revetment mats, which comprises assembling a mat above water, in successive increments. progressively launching the mat so formed. securing the portion of mat first completed to and supporting same by a row of floats, pro gressively securing additional portions of such mat as they are completed, to and supporting same by additional parallel rows of floats, and on completion of a mat of desired length, manually releasing the row of floats along one end of said mat and progressively thereafter allowing settlement of released mat to release additional rows of floats, until all of said floats are released, and allowing said mat to settle to place.

7. The method of building and placing revetment mats, which comprises assembling a mat, securing the mat to and supporting same by floats, releasing the floats supporting one end of said mat, and progressively re leasing additional floats as the previously released portions settle until all of said floats are released, and allowing said mat to settle to place.

8. The method of building and placing revetment mats, which comprises assembling a mat, securing the mat to and supporting same by a series of rows of floats, releasing the row of floats at one end of said mat and progressively releasing additional rows of floats as the previously released portions settle, until all of said floats are released, and allowing said mat to settle to place.

9. The method of building and placing revetment mats, which comprises assembling a mat, securing the mat to and supporting same by a series of rows of floats, manually releasing the row of floats at one end of said mat, and allowing settlement of the released portion to progressively release additional rows of floats until all of said floats are released, and said mat to settle to place.

10. The method of building and placing revet-ment mats, which comprises assembling a mat, securing the mat to and supporting same by floats, manually releasing the floats, supporting one end of said mat, and allowing settlement incident to such release to progressively release additional floats until all of said floats are released, whereby said mat may settle to place.

11. The method of building and placing revetment mats, which comprises assembling a mat, securing the mat to and supporting same by a series of rows of floats, manually releasing the row of floats at one end of said mat and allowing settlement of such released end to release the adjacent row of floats, and settlement thereafter to progressively release rows of floats until all of said floats are released, whereby said mat may settle to place.

12. Means for supporting and releasing a revetment mat having upwardly projecting support loops; said means comprising a plurality of pontons, each equipped with transversely disposed tension members having ends depending along the sides of said pontons, releasable hooks each on an end of a tension member and adapted each for engagement with a mat loop, means on said ponton for taking up slack in said tension members, and

revetment mat having upwardly projectingv supportloops; said means comprising a plurality of pontons, each equipped with transversely disposed flexible tension members having ends depending along the sides of said pontons, relea's'able'hooks, each on an end of a tension member and adapted each for engagement with a mat; loop, means on said ponton for taking up slack in said tension members, and holding same, means for releasing said hooks on downward movement thereof, and means for tripping, said slack takeup to permit downward movement of said tension member endsfand the hooks thereon and'release said mat.

14; Means for supporting and releasing a revetment mat having upwardly projecting support loops; said means comprising a plu- 1 rality of pontons, each equipped with transversely disposed tension members having ends depending along the sides of said pontons, releasable hooks each on an end of a tension member and adapted each for engagement with a mat loop, means on said ponton for drawing the ends of said tension members upward, and holding same, means for releasing said hooks on downward move= ment thereof; andineans for tripping said takeup to permit, downward movementof said tension member ends and the hooks thereon and release said mat.

15. In means for supporting and releasing a revetment mat having upwardly projecting support loops; a ponton equipped with transversely disposed tension members having ends depending along the opposite sides of said pontons, releasable hooks each on an end of a tension memberand adapted each i for engagement with a mat loop, means on said ponton for raising the ends of said tension members, and holding same, means for releasing said hooks on downward movement thereof, and means for trippingsaid raising means to permit downward movement of said tension member ends, and the hooks thereon, and release said mat.

16'. In means forsupporting and releasing a revetment mat having upwardly projecting support loops; a ponton equipped'with a plurality of chains disposed transversely across the deck thereof and having ends depending over the opposite sides, hooks, one on each chain end adapted each to engage with a mat loop, latches securing said hooks in engagement with said loops, a cable secured to said chains adapted to take up slack in said chains, an arm transversely disposed across saidponton, a pivotal mounting for.v

one end thereof, a float on the oppositeend thereof depending down the side of said pon ton, a latch carried by said arm for retain ing said cable in slack holdingposition, said latch being releasable on raising said float relatlve to said ponton manually'and by sub; mergence of said ponton, and meanssecured to said ponton for release of said hook latches on release of slack in said chains.

17. In means for supporting and releasing a revetment mat having upwardly project ing support loops; a ponton equipped with a plurality of chains disposed transversely across the deck thereof and having ends de; pending over the sides, hooks one on each chain end adapted to engage with a mat loop,- latches securing said hooks in engagement with said loops, means for taking up slack in said chains, and holding same, float con-; trolled means for holding said slack, said means being releasable on raising said float relative to said ponton manually and by sub-- mergence of said ponton, and means for releasing of said hook latches on release of slack in said chains.

18. Means for supporting and releasing revetment mat having upwardly projecting support loops; said means comprising a plurality of pontons, each ponton equipped with a plurality of chains disposed transversely across the deck thereof and having ends depending over the sides, releasable means on each chain end adapted to engage with a mat loop, means adapted to take up slack in said chains, andraise said ends, float controlled means for holding such slack taken up, said means being releasable on raising said float relative to said ponton, manually and by submergence of said ponton,'and means for releasing said loop engaging means, on release of slack in said chains.

19. In means for supporting and releasing a revetment mat having upwardly projecting support loops; a ponton equipped with a plurality or chains disposed transversely across the deck thereof and having ends depending over the sides, means on each chain and adapted to engage with a mat loop, means adapted to raise said chains upward, means to hold said chain ends in raised position, means for releasing said loop engaging means on lowering of said chain end, and float con trolled means operable manually and by submergence of said ponton, for releasing said chains.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

BLAIR A. BOSS. 

